Smoke and mirrors is a metaphor for a deceptive, fraudulent or insubstantial explanation or description. The source of the name is based on magicians' illusions, where magicians make objects appear or disappear by extending or retracting mirrors amid a confusing burst of smoke. The expression may have a connotation of virtuosity or cleverness in carrying out such a deception. (Wikipedia)
Tonight the Board of SBFII meets again. I see that a 'correction' has been made to the report of November 14th. It was done quietly yesterday afternoon. In fact, had I not looked myself I would have had no idea this had happened. Nevertheless, I am grateful for the amendment. My time travel days are over. I hope we get no more 'smoke and mirrors' from tonight's meeting.
To get the right answers, one has first to ask the right questions...
The Board's 'independent' investigation into the events of July 18th failed to ask the right questions of the expert.
The 'Independent' investigation promised to members was to be conducted by someone not involved directly with current Staff or Board Members. It was moved (unknown to members and lchris/dyebat) to be conducted at the home of the Director of the Board by a friend/neighbour of her son.
All seven members of the Board approved this. All seven members of the Board presented this report to members as their 'Independent' investigation. What is untenable is the fact that two (staff) Board members signed the original report dated November 14th even though they knew it contained statements that were at best misleading. How on earth could this have happened? Are they not aware of the weight such a statement carries?
From the official report of that investigation the investigator was asked to "examine the data base to see if there was any evidence of hacking, or interference and to comment upon the database errors which we were and are continuing to experience."
Had this been a genuinely neutral investigation all involved should have been asked a few questions in order to piece together the chronology. Neither Xeno, lchris, dyebat or I were ever asked any questions by the investigator. lchris collected data throughout, yet no one asked for it. The findings would have been very different had this happened.
But sometimes it pays to ask people the wrong questions so you can make the outcome appear to be suitable for your purposes.
I want to give credit to two technical analysts on the forum who, after the events of July 18th, came to lchris and apologised unreservedly for their part in the confusion that night. They told Chris they had created two admin accounts because they genuinely believed that the forum was under attack (by the faction named by the cyber stalker bully.) They had been unable to grant super-admin powers to those accounts, but their logic at that time had been perfectly rational. Was it any wonder they were led to believe that the attack was genuine, when another staff member had issued a call to arms earlier that day?
It was by working with certain staff members, and others, that the cyber stalker was so successful. He did not have to repeat his deceptions; the 'team' did it for him. That gave his lies far more credence.
What I find extremely difficult to come to terms with is the assertion that those two new admin accounts were created as 'redundancy' (safeguards). It makes no sense that two experienced technical officers should practise a fire drill if they thought the building was genuinely on fire! The truth, on the other hand, makes perfect sense. If those two accounts were authorised, they were authorised retrospectively; not on July 18th/19th.
But I still find it incredulous that the report also laid the effect of the troll's influence firmly at our door. By 'our' I mean lchris, dyebat and me.
I really think it is time for people to stand up and 'fess up.
Some of the staff, some Board members, and some of the general members know more of this story and are keeping quiet, allowing innocent people to take the blame. To them I would say, you owe all of us in the Susan Boyle community the truth. We want to move on and forward in unity. You are preventing that. There is no shame in telling the truth.
